There are no borders between east and west in the eclectic music of Moody Amiri, a duo comprised of Amir Amiri (santur) and Richard Moody (viola). Inspired by the diversity and fluidity between their respective Persian and western classical and jazz training, Amiri and Moody have created an engaging and distinctive sound fusing elements of traditional Persian music with jazz, classical, Indian, and modern spiritual styles.
Amiri (Canada-Iran) and Moody (Canada) met in 2011, and in their collaboration seek to expand the boundaries of their respective musical backgrounds. Balancing tradition and innovation and finding that possibilities are limitless, Moody Amiri has already gained recognition for its ground-breaking contributions to the international music scene, nominated for western Canadian Music Awards 2014. Moody Amiri will be accompanied by special guest Iranian percussionist from Vancouver, Hamin Honari.
ABOUT AMIR AMIRI
Amir Amiri was born in Tehran, Iran where much of his youth was spent studying the santur, a 72-string hammer dulcimer that lies at the heart of Persian classical music. He also studied Indian classical music with some of the masters, including Ravi Shankar and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. While he is classically trained, Amiri has always sought to explore the limits of his music, stretching beyond the constraints of classical thought. Arriving in Canada in 1996, Amiri found the ability to do just that, while in residency at The Banff Centre for the Arts, a haven of inspiration to which he has returned many times. While exploring the limits of his music, he has found that there are none. In 2003, Amiri was awarded Artist of the Year from CBC Galaxie Rising Stars.
ABOUT RICHARD MOODY
A veteran of the Canadian music scene, violinist/violist Richard Moody has delved into almost every style a string player can try. After an education in classical viola at the University of Manitoba and the Conservatoire Nationale de Musique in Caen, France, he co-founded the folk-rock group Acoustically Inclined, garnering national following and acclaim. He would subsequently perform and/or record with the Wailin Jennys, the Bills, Joel Fafard, Jane Siberry, Glenn Buhr, Paris to Kyiv, the Wyrd Sisters and the Manitoba Chamber orchestra, among many others. Most recently, he has cofounded the duo Moody Amiri which combines Persian with lassical, jazz and Indian influences. Richard’s musical interests lie largely in improvisation, drawing from diverse styles ranging from bluegrass to jazz to classical. As a composer and arranger for such groups as the
Manitoba Chamber orchestra and Eagle and Hawk with the Winnipeg Symphony, he combines a knowledge and love for classical counterpoint with a edgy style of harmony. Richard currently resides in Victoria, British Columbia, and as often as possible, spends the winters in India studying yoga.
ARTIST LINK: https://www.moodyamiri.com/